NVI restarted

Nalinga irrigation farmer Barry Croke is president of the revived NVI.

The irrigators’ lobby group Northern Victorian Irrigators has been revived by a group of farmers.

The group was active about 10 years ago and took a controversial position in supporting the $2billion irrigation modernisation project which required the building of the 75Ml Sugarloaf pipeline to Melbourne to supplement drought-affected water supplies.

The project was opposed by the Liberal and National parties and the VFF and spawned the ‘‘Plug the Pipeline’’ group.

Subsequent to its construction hardly any water was required through the pipeline.

Nalinga irrigation farmer Barry Croke is president of the revived NVI, Rob Watson from Numurkah is secretary and Doug McKeown from Kaarimba is treasurer.

Mr Croke said there was a need to give irrigators a voice in water issues.

He said they would now be setting out to build membership and would be running public meetings to generate interest.